Bella Sara

Bella Sara is an international children's card trading game, combining a world of magical horses with game play. Published by Seattle-based game company Hidden City Entertainment, Bella Sara began as a trading card game that has since expanded into an international product line. With three set releases each year, all Trading Cards have images of illustrated horses, characters and/or magical friends with positive, inspirational messages on them. Each Card Pack includes secret codes that can be redeemed on the website to care for and nurture magical horses online. Select Bella Sara products include these secret codes to expand the magical world even further.

Contents

History

Bella Sara was started in Denmark by Gitte Odder Brændgaard, who intended to create an alternative to other popular trading card games, such as Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, that would be more suited to girls and lack the element of competition present in the other games. After the game proved successful in Scandinavia, the cards were released on a trial run to United States consumers in Seattle and San Diego at the end of 2006. Sales during that trial run were high enough to convince retailers to take the cards national in March 2007 by Hidden City Entertainment.[1] Since then the cards have continued to grow in popularity with children.

Card availability

Cards can be purchased in booster packs, value boxes, and tins, each of which contains a random assortment of cards. Card packs can be purchased online or at a number of retailers world wide.[2] All cards are published for a limited time in "sets". There are currently eight sets of cards, as well as other collectible merchandise. This includes:

First Edition
45 horse cards, 10 energy cards, and 9 extra-rare shiny cards with silver background
Second Series
85 horse cards, 12 energy cards, and 27 extra-rare shiny cards with gold background
Northern Lights
45 horse cards, 10 extra-rare shiny cards, and 17 extra-rare shiny cards with pale blue background
Ancient Lights
45 horse cards, 10 energy cards, and 17 extra-rare shiny cards with pink background
Native Lights
45 horse cards, 10 energy cards, and 17 extra-rare shiny cards with textured lavender background
Magical Friends
74 regular horse cards (each with a unique magical friend), 12 energy cards, and 34 extra-rare shiny cards with solid lavender background
Baby Bella
80 horse cards with 22 parent cards, 48 foal cards and 10 teacher cards; 12 energy cards, and 37 extra-rare shiny cards, green background
Treasures
50 horse cards, 5 treasure cards, and 55 extra-rare shiny cards with turquoise background. Each pack comes with a sticker card, a tattoo card, and a mini-game. Find out more at [1]
Royalty
49 horse cards, 1 Sara card, 5 castle cards, and 55 extra-rare shiny cards with yellow background. Each pack comes with a secret code, a sticker card, and a tattoo card. Find out more at [2]

Each Bella Sara Ticket activated awards horses, horseshoes, and prizes to play with in your online cottage.

Bella's Ball
50 horse cards, 5 character cards, 5 ballroom cards, and 55 extra-rare shiny cards with orchid background. Each pack comes with a secret code and a sticker card. Find out more at [3]

Each secret code activated awards bonus adventures and horseshoes at [4].

Sunflowers
45 horse and/or character cards cards, 10 character cards, and 55 extra-rare shiny cards. Each pack comes with a secret code and a sticker card.
Moonfairies
Starlights
Spring Carnival

Find out more at [5]. Each secret code activated awards bonus adventures and horseshoes at [6].

Miniatures Series 1, 2, and 3
Velvety horses now in the palm of your hand. See more at [7]. Collect the horses from Series 2 and 3 to activate bonus adventures online.
Collectors Tins
Including school tin, holiday 2008 tins, holiday 2009 tins, and a brand-new horse keepsake case this April 2010.

As of 2010, Bella Sara cards are available in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Australia, Mexico and South Africa.

Since its international debut, Bella Sara has received numerous awards from child development and parenting authorities, including the “National Parenting Center Seal of Approval” for 2009, the National Parenting Publications "Honors Award" for 2009, the "Toy of the Year" and the “Seal of Excellence” from Creative Child Magazine for 2008 and 2009, the “Excellent Product” and “Outstanding Product” designations from iParenting Media, and the “Best Products” award from Dr. Toy.

Licensed Products

Other Bella Sara licensed products include: Bees and Jam sleepwear and intimate apparel, Jakks Pacific toy varieties, CodeMasters DS & PC Game, Paradise Kids Pose-able Horses, Simply Fun Treasure Trot, HarperCollins Stories and Activity Books, MasterPieces Activities, Trends International Posters, Ultra Pro portfolios, and other international product lines.

References

  1. ^ Salkin, Allen (November 12 2007). "With Ponies, Unicorns and Secret Codes, an Effort to Unleash a Craze for Girls". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/business/12bella.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=business&adxnnlx=1200098026-HFLEJekkTVnIPanUmgpwvg. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  2. ^ "About Bella Sara". http://www.bellasara.com/about2.aspx. 

External links